General performance in the fourth quarter of 2009
Revenues declined by 18% in autonomous terms in the fourth quarter (-5% currency effect) to € 186 million.
At the TenCate Protective Fabrics market group there were temporarily low revenues in the US as a result of high inventories in the chain with regard to a number of products for the US Army.
In the TenCate Space & Aerospace Composites and TenCate Advanced Armour market groups, traditional year-end orders failed to materialize; a part of these revenues will, however, be shifted to the future.
Less emphasis was placed on discounted off-season sales within the TenCate Grass group. TenCate Grass production volume has been adjusted accordingly and this has resulted in lower debtor and stock positions. A substantial part of the revenues from synthetic turf and the result will be moved from the fourth quarter to the new financial year. The trend in the fourth quarter is consequently not representative of market developments in 2010.

During the fourth quarter measures were taken in the Dutch production at the synthetic turf and composites group, which reduced the break-even level. At the same time some activities were outsourced. This involved costs to the amount of approximately € 5 million in the fourth quarter.
The operating result before the amortization of intangible fixed assets (EBITA) declined in the fourth quarter by € 21.9 million to € 2.4 million (in autonomous terms -85%; currency effect -5%). Approximately half this decrease is the result of exceptional items.

The net result for the fourth quarter amounted to -€ 1.4 million (2008: € 13.8 million).

Annual figures for 2009
Revenues for 2009 as a whole amounted to € 842 million (2008: € 1,033 million). In autonomous terms, this decline in revenues amounted to 18% (currency effect +2%).
The revenues in the second half of the year (€ 408 million) were in line with the first half of the year (€ 434 million).
In view of the situation in international financial markets and among our customers, TenCate adjusted to the new reality and placed the emphasis on cash management. This has resulted in the company no longer temporarily giving the highest priority throughout the year to its objectives relating to revenue growth and profit optimization.

There were non-recurring costs for reorganization (approximately € 6 million) and under-utilized capacity. Furthermore, there is a (legal) dispute with the energy supplier relating to the validity of the delivery contract. This involves a cost variance of approximately € 5 million annually.

Personnel costs in 2009 were reduced by approximately € 17 million. The workforce decreased by 15% over 2009 as a whole.

Corrected for the result on divested activities, impairment of assets and exceptional items (for 2009 as a whole: +€ 3.2 million; 2008: -€ 3.5 million), the decline in profits amounted to 42%.

The financial policy was focused particularly on net debt reduction. Operational cash flow rose by approximately 200% to € 145 million (2008: € 49 million), principally as a result of the cutback in working capital by € 105 million (excluding exchange rate effect). The tight financial policy has led to TenCate remaining, by its own, well within the covenants agreed with the banks. As a result, it was possible to avoid refinancing, which would have been detrimental. The debt position was considerably reduced by an amount of € 136 million, which will create scope for resumption of the growth strategy in the new financial year. TenCate still has a credit facility on favourable terms (which was concluded earlier).
At the current baseline, priority is once again being given to profit growth.

Dividend policy
The dividend policy is based on a pay-out ratio of 40% of net profit, payable in cash or in shares charged to the share premium reserve, according to the shareholders’ preference.
In view of the transient nature of trends during 2009 and the focus on cash management related to this, which resulted in a significant improvement in the financial position, a once-only proposal has been made to increase the pay-out ratio and to fix the dividend at € 0.60 per € 2.50 par value share, entirely in cash, or in shares charged to the share premium reserve, according to the shareholders’ preference.

Financial
TenCate has pursued a cautious investment policy. Investments decreased by € 30.7 million to € 17.3 million, with a depreciation and amortization level of € 42.7 million (2008: € 42.3 million). The largest item concerned the investment in Dubai (synthetic turf production) and was related to the completion of the 2008 expansion programme.

The net interest-bearing debt for 2009 decreased to € 195 million (end of December 2008: € 331 million). The available credit facility amounts to € 389 million.
The net financing expenses (corrected for the impairment on an associated company to the amount of € 4.9 million) declined from -€ 13.7 million to -€ 7.8 million, mainly as a result of a lower average interest rate and also due to a lower average debt.

The tax rate at 28% remained virtually the same as in the previous year (27%). The high tax rate in the US was compensated for by such factors as the utilizing of fiscal loss compensation and the forming of deferred tax debits.

Current performance and outlook
There is currently a higher order intake for protective fabrics. Prospects relating to aerospace activities have improved slightly. The military aviation market is developing favourably.

In the light of the order portfolio, the start of the year seems very promising for the TenCate Advanced Armour market group. The recent acquisition of the armour company AML UK represents a strengthening of these activities. This transaction has now been completed.
As announced earlier, a large defence contract (minimum € 40 million) was acquired in January 2010. This contract is related to the armouring concept with regard to types of helicopter from Eurocopter, a subsidiary of EADS. This contract is of strategic value, as TenCate is directly involved at the design stage and in the integration of the safety concept into the aircraft. This will increase the likelihood of follow-up orders.

A number of orders for vehicle armouring and personal protection to the amount of US$ 25 million were also recently announced in the American market, with an option on an increase to US$ 35 million.

The geosynthetics market in North America is showing no signs of recovery. There are opportunities for infrastructure and environmental projects in the rapidly growing Asian market.
The adjustment to the sales policy in the fourth quarter involving the synthetic turf activities resulted in a sharp drop in off-season pre-sales, but will improve the baseline for the revenues and the result in the current financial year. Policy will be focused on improving margins at the TenCate Grass group.

TenCate’s financial position has been considerably strengthened compared with the beginning of last year. Consequently, the company is better able to optimally employ its production capacity and respond to seasonal and project-based fluctuations in demand.

Despite lower net profits for 2009, good strategic progress was made in various areas. The baseline was strengthened, in view of the strongly improved financial position and the reduced cost base. As a result, a higher result is expected for 2010 – barring unforeseen circumstances – despite the fact that in the majority of core markets there is no clear sign of an economic recovery yet.

In 2008 there were occasional large American orders for vehicle armouring. In Europe major orders were deferred. This makes it difficult to compare the revenues with 2009.

Within the TenCate Space & Aerospace Composites market group there was a slow-down in building rates and a delay at the start of the production of the new generation of aircraft. Considerable stock depletion also occurred in the entire production chain, which gave rise to a temporary halt in production of the related composite materials (TenCate Cetex®). This trend had already started in the fourth quarter of 2008. The outlook for TenCate Cetex®, however, remains positive.

The start of two development centres in 2009 in which TenCate occupies a leading position, in part supported by Airbus (TAPAS) and Boeing (TPRC), underline the importance of innovative lightweight materials for the aviation industry and other areas of application (wind energy, automotive, etc.).
In the military aerospace and satellite industries TenCate’s composite materials are being used more and more.
The economic situation led to a decline in the demand for safety fabrics for professional wear and work wear for industrial customers. This trend affected Dutch production in particular, which principally serves this market. American demand for flame-retardant fabrics for military uniforms by contrast continued to rise significantly, which compensated to a large extent for the decline in revenues within the TenCate Protective Fabrics market group.

Geosynthetics & Grass Sector

(x € mln.)

H2 2009

H2 2008

2009

2008

Net revenues

199.3

261.3

392.1

497.8

EBITA

12.3

20.9

16.8

37.8

EBITA margin

6.2%

8.0%

4.3%

7.6%

The autonomous decline in revenues of the Geosynthetics & Grass sector amounted to 19% (currency effect +1%). The decline in revenues in 2009 occurred in both market groups in equal measure. EBITA for 2009 as a whole fell by 51% in autonomous terms (currency effect 0%), which can mainly be attributed to the TenCate Grass group. The effects of the tight financial markets had a negative effect on customers’ purchasing capacity, and TenCate exercised caution in relation to suppliers’ credit. As a result of the risk-limiting revenue policy, there were considerable under-utilization results.

At the TenCate Grass group therefore cyclical economic factors to a lesser extent form the underlying causes of the decline in revenues and profit. In the fourth quarter in particular TenCate actively focused on reducing the financing of customers and the limiting of stockpiling. The traditional pre-season sale of synthetic turf products was at a considerably lower level in the fourth quarter. As a result of forced stock depletion, margins were under pressure during the entire year.

The geosynthetics market in the US remained at a low level. The promised incentives from the American government relating to infrastructure projects have not yet resulted in recovery in the projects market.
The Asian and South American markets developed favourably.

Technologies / Technical Components Sector / Holding & Services

(x € mln.)

H2 2009

H2 2008

2009

2008

Net revenues

27.2

26.9

52.7

53.8

EBITA

-3.1

-1.5

-7.0

-3.9

The result in this sector is due entirely to the Holding, which derived its income mainly from the interest on loans. This interest is not visible at EBITA level.
Xennia Technology and TenCate Enbi made a positive contribution to the result.

In the fourth quarter an increase in revenues could be seen at TenCate Enbi and there was recovery in the results, partly due to the cost measures implemented. The increase in revenue can in part be attributed to newly developed products for new markets, such as insulation products for solar boilers and the automotive sector.

Xennia Technology is making good progress in the marketing of components for industrial inkjet applications and has made a positive contribution to the result of this sector. From 2010 onwards, Xennia will to an increasing degree start to supply specialist inks for advanced printing and coating applications, in addition to components,

Royal Ten Cate
Almelo, Thursday 4 March 2010

For further information:

The press conference on the annual results 2009 will be webcast in Dutch only on 4 March 2010 between 10:30 and 12:00 hrs CET. Register via www.tencate.com.

Royal Ten Cate (TenCate) is a multinational company which combines textile technology, chemical processes and material technology in the development and production of functional materials with distinctive characteristics. TenCate products are sold throughout the world.
Systems and materials from TenCate come under four areas of application: safety and protection; space and aerospace; infrastructure and the environment; sport and recreation. TenCate occupies a leading position in safety fabrics, composites for space and aerospace, antiballistics, geosynthetics and synthetic turf. TenCate is listed on the NYSE Euronext (AMX).